Michael Tilson Thomas, music director of the San Francisco Symphony and recent recipient of the National Medal of Arts, is bringing the Grammy award-winning symphony to Ann Arbor this weekend.

The performance will span two days, and will include a solo by internationally recognized violinist Christian Tetzlaff on Friday and a gala dinner and champagne gathering in the Michigan League on Saturday. The University Musical Society will also present the symphony and Tilson Thomas with UMS's Distinguished Artist Award on Saturday. Additionally, a screening of the symphony’s PBS documentary “Keeping Score” will be shown in the Walgreen Drama Center on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Included in the ensemble is principal clarinetist and ‘U’ alum Carey Bell. Along with many other members of the ensemble, he will be giving a class called "Engaging Young Audiences in Classical Music," which will focus on clarinet playing.

“In my previous classes, I’ve had a couple people play for me in front of the group who have prepared a solo or orchestral excerpts that the students have to learn for auditions,” said Bell. “It might be free form where everyone is prepared for something and I just call out whoever is ready.”

The process of becoming a principal chair is a strenuous one; however, Bell became a member of the orchestra after already having earned this position and now, three years later, he is tenured.

“I joined the Symphony in 2007 as a principal clarinetist. Whenever there’s an opening, there’s an audition process where they let everyone know of it, résumés are looked through and about 150 people are picked to play in a three or four day period,” explained Bell. “Then there is a tenure process where everyone is evaluating you at every moment.”

Returning to the institution where Bell was given the instruction to become an established musician has proved sentimental for him.

“I went to the University from ’93 to ’97 as an undergrad, and I came back with the symphony last year or the year before,” said Bell. “I did a master class and taught students, and it was an incredible experience to come back as a professional and to some of the same classrooms. It brought back great memories, as I’ve learned so much about how to be a musician and how to play clarinet (at the University).”

The first day’s performance will include an overture, a concerto (with Tetzlaff) and then music showcasing the sounds of the orchestra in the second half. The second day will be a little less traditional. The ensemble will play a symphony by Gustav Mahler, which will last about 80 minutes with no intermission.

“Our director has been very instrumental in getting Mahler to be part of our repertoire,” said Bell. “I think Mahler is one of those composers who conducts better than most, so we do a lot of his music. The piece has some off-stage brass chorales that Mahler wanted placed around in different places backstage, so you’ll hear different moments where there’s far-off music. It produces a sort of magical effect.”

Thomas will be giving explanations before many of his pieces, especially for those that would be less familiar to the audience.

“Tilson Thomas is a very dynamic guy; he’s one of those people that seems to know everybody and has worked with so many great musicians throughout his life,” said Bell. “It’s very valuable to have somebody with that much experience who will spend as much time with us as needed. It has really changed the orchestra around.”